Welcome back Heather from Cook it up Paleo! She’s been here before when she shared her Roasted Beets and Carrots with Rosemary Butter last summer! I’m in the process of heading out to Pittsburgh to finish up the last of the photography for my next cookbook and will be cooking up 5-6 recipes per day, so I am so thankful to have Heather to keep the blog filled with delicious recipes while I create my best and most creative cookbook I have ever made!! But don’t worry, I have some special recipes for you all who are signed up for my newsletter! You’ll be getting some recipes that no one else will see! If you’re not signed up for my newsletter, make sure to sign up on the right hand corner of your screen for special offers and news! Now get to making these deviled eggs!

__________________________________________

Here in the Midwest, there’s a lot of eggs. We have no trouble sourcing locally raised, free range eggs from at least four different farmers throughout the year. When we switched from store-bought eggs to local ones, the taste and quality difference amazed me. Even just how hard the shells were compared to supermarket eggs. Truly amazing.

I’ve never been quite sure if I liked deviled eggs. They always sounded like a great idea, but the reality always seemed to disappoint. I would eat one when friends would bring them to picnics, but I never could get into them. I realize now that was because the deviled eggs I ate were likely pre-made ones from a supermarket deli, with icky mayo and preservatives.

I decided to try and make some myself, subbing avocado for the mayo and adding some zesty spices. This recipe was the result and I’ve decided that I LOVE deviled eggs! My family is super into anything with taco seasonings, and that’s why I added them to this recipe. The chili powder and fresh cilantro definitely kick things up a notch and will make these deviled eggs stand out at any picnic or potluck.

Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and scoop the yolks into a mini food processor.

Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until fairly smooth.

Scoop the filling into a plastic zip bag and cut a small hole in one corner.

Pipe the filling into the egg white halves.

Serve.

Notes

*For help with this, check out my post How To Make The Perfect Harboiled Egg: http://bit.ly/1vwrM4M

3.2.2807

Blogger Bio: My name is Heather and I am teenage healthy food enthusiast! I chronicle my cooking adventures at Cook it up Paleo. I was diagnosed with celiac disease at age 16. I love to educate others about the power of eating real food. My life goal is to become a privately practicing dietitian to help others fix their nutrition. I also finished my first cookbook a few months ago, which you can find here . Don’t forget to follow me on: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google+.

Front Squats: 3 x 7 all @ 65% (10 mins) – Right now, squats just aren’t really working for me as I fix a knee issue, so this day I did a little good morning action with the barbell instead. I would do a good morning, then a squat with my chest slightly forward, then raise my butt into another good morning and stand. Try it, it burns the hamstrings.

After FIT class, I headed out to the Manitou Springs Incline. If you don’t know what the incline is, just imagine a stairway to heaven. Straight up a mountain. And when you think you’re at the top, you’re not. And you hate life. And then once you are done, you have to run a 3 mile trail down. And you hate life more. I’m just not really an outdoorsy person. I would rather be inside working on a Saturday then climbing a mountain for hours to see the mountains that I’ve lived in my entire life. But I more so hated my life because I hadn’t eaten anything except a handful of nuts. Meaning I didn’t have brunch until 4:30. I was one grumpy b*tch. Especially because I’m pretty sure I burned approximately 1 million calories doing that sh*t. But you should totally do it.

]]>http://paleomg.com/weekly-workouts-26/feed/5Fashion Fridays: Workout Attire + Topo Athletic Shoe Giveaway!http://paleomg.com/fashion-fridays-workout-attire-topoathletic-shoe-giveaway/
http://paleomg.com/fashion-fridays-workout-attire-topoathletic-shoe-giveaway/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 13:20:31 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11140Time to get real: These outfits below are what I wear on a daily basis. I sometimes wish I had more things to dress up for but then... Read More »]]>

Time to get real: These outfits below are what I wear on a daily basis. I sometimes wish I had more things to dress up for but then again I’m incredibly thankful I can wear sweats or workout clothes daily while I work from home, with absolutely no makeup on and a high bun. Not the best look. Honestly, a lot of times my Fashion Friday posts were just outfits I put together that day and didn’t even get to go out in. Kind of dumb, but I love putting outfits together even if I only wear them for 5 minutes. Then it gives me an idea of what to wear when I decide to be social. Every blue moon.

But let’s get right to the exciting point of the day. PaleOMG and Topo Athletic have teamed up to bring you an awesome giveaway! A few months back, I got my first pair of Topo Athletic shoes, their Sante shoe. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a shoe that I couldn’t tie since they use the Boa closure system, but I fell in looooooove. They are so comfortable, easy to run in, easy to jump in, and even better they are easy to CrossFit in. And they come in super girly colors like Black/Orchid and Turquoise/Grey. But wait, don’t you think that they neglect the fellas. No way, Jose. They also have Sante for men in Black/Red and Black/Colbat.

But now, for the real exciting shoes of the day. The shoes that 5 lucky people will win ALONG WITH a signed copy of my second cookbook The Paleo Kitchen. These shoes are seriously amazing. When Topo Athletic told me about the Halsas, I wasn’t sure if I would love them as much as the my Sante since they included shoe strings instead of the Boa closure system. Boy was I wrong. I absolutely love them. While doing a CrossFit workout with 100m sprints the other day, I thought about how my feet felt like they were walking on mattresses with every step. They are seriously so comfortable, so light weight, and so easy to go from doing a squat snatch in the gym to run a 400m sprint outside.

Topo Athletic JUST RELEASED their Halsas and they want to celebrate with PaleOMG readers! How amazing is that? So let’s celebrate! Check out how I put my outfit together with my new Halsas and get some inspiration for your own outfit! Then check out the contest rules below and get to entering before the contest ends on April 1st! Remember, five winners will be selected so you will have a good chance at winning!

Don’t have Twitter or IG, get it! Winners must reside within the US / Canada. Five winners will be randomly selected after the last day of competition, April 1st. Five winners will receive 1 signed copy of The Paleo Kitchen, 1 pair of Halsas, 1 Topo T-shirt.

]]>http://paleomg.com/fashion-fridays-workout-attire-topoathletic-shoe-giveaway/feed/13Char Siu Fried “Rice”http://paleomg.com/char-siu-fried-rice/
http://paleomg.com/char-siu-fried-rice/#commentsThu, 26 Mar 2015 14:16:34 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11138This weather is exactly why I refuse to wash my car in the winter. I keep getting sh*t from multiple people about how I need to wash my... Read More »]]>

This weather is exactly why I refuse to wash my car in the winter. I keep getting sh*t from multiple people about how I need to wash my car. But here’s the thing, why in the hell would I spend money on someone putting water on my car when it falls from the sky every other week? Sure, there are salts on the road that can rust it, but I have personally never had that issue. Ever. So when all these people are telling me to waste my money on water, I’m letting mother earth clean it instead. Like a little happy hippie. Take that, you dumb dumbs.

Remember how I told you that my car smelled really freaking bad? The smell has completely gone away. And I didn’t clean anything out or throw anything away. It just went away. My theory is that the garage smelled and the smell was just leaking into my car. But that’s just a theory. Obviously a spot on theory, if you ask me.

Speaking of garages, I can’t wait to have my own! I have been bombarded with requests from the lender during this house-closing process and have screamed into a pillow multiple times, but it’s so close I can almost taste it. And it tastes like new kitchen cabinetry and toilets that have never been sat on. It tastes good. Ew. Next week, I leave for Pittsburgh to finish up the last of the photography for my third cookbook, Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook and as soon as I get back, I will hand over our life savings and hope for the best. Buying a house is so scary and frustrating and stressful, but I could not be happier or more excited about it. And I especially can’t wait to share pictures with you as we save money back up to decorate the place. Just like Fashion Fridays and Weekly Workouts, I plan on sharing some house decor and maybe even some DIY projects as I get each room set up! As of right now, I’m super excited to fix up the dining room and a vanity area in the bedroom. Ooo it’s going to be so fun. So girly. And did I mention fun? Just you wait! But don’t freak out if you hate everything other than food, there will still be plenty of weekly recipes shared on the blog. Don’t go getting your panties in a twist.

I did something for the first time in 4 years yesterday: I went to the dentist. I know I know, get your life together Juli. I don’t know why I hadn’t gone in so long, I honestly just kind of forgot about it. But I’m getting older and even though I’m a good flosser, I could just tell that I needed a deep cleaning. I am SO glad I went. Other people probably wouldn’t notice, but I see a huge difference in my teeth. And I take care of my body in so many other ways, why wouldn’t I take care of my mouth? So this is your friendly reminder to go to the dentist, because even though it kind of sucks having someone digging in your face with plastic gloves on, not having teeth later on in life sucks more.

Place a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of ghee and eggs, sprinkle with salt, and scramble eggs until soft and fluffy. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add 2 more tablespoons of ghee along with onion, pepper, and carrot and sauté until veggies become soft, about 8 minutes. Then add riced cauliflower along with red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until cauliflower begins to soften.

Lastly, add coconut aminos, green onions, and Char Siu pieces to the pan, mix with vegetables and cook for about 3-5 more minutes then serve immediately!

Notes

*to rice cauliflower, run florets through food processor using the shredding attachment OR using a graterother additional add-ins: peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms, broccoli

3.2.2807

]]>http://paleomg.com/char-siu-fried-rice/feed/20Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)http://paleomg.com/char-siu-chinese-bbq-pork/
http://paleomg.com/char-siu-chinese-bbq-pork/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 14:20:28 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11123There’s a restaurant here in Denver called Cholon that I have always try it. Problem is, it’s not gluten free friendly at all. But they have the most... Read More »]]>

There’s a restaurant here in Denver called Cholon that I have always try it. Problem is, it’s not gluten free friendly at all. But they have the most delicious looking items on their menu. Like pork belly buns, and dumplings, and tamarind glaze short ribs. All I have heard from people is that it’s one of the best restaurants in town. But I KNOW that I would be sick if I went there. This is my small effort to create something as tasty as they make without it being covered in gluten. Gluten is just the worst. I envy those who can shovel in the gluten with no issue at all. If you’re one of those, go to Cholon and be completely happy. You bastard.

So get this: my hair has been greasy lately. Wtf? No, please do not say “Maybe you’re pregnant. My hair got weirdly greasy when I was pregnant.” I get this comment all the time. This is what it usually looks like:

Me: “I’m so tired lately. I’ve had such a hard time getting out of bed.”

Reader: “Maybe you’re pregnant. I was so tired all the time when I was pregnant.”

Me: “I have to pee all the time.”

Reader: “You’re probably pregnant.”

Me: “I’m craving sweets like crazy lately.”

Reader: “You’re definitely pregnant. It’s just science.”

No, I’m not pregnant. And will not be pregnant any time soon. Just because I met the man I’m going to marry doesn’t mean I forgot how to practice safe sex. I’m pretty good at using my brain. But back to the point, my hair is greasy for no apparent reason. I should talk to my hair stylist about it first, but nah, I’ll just bring it up to you. What the fudge, people? It will be good to go for a half day and wham, I’m a grease ball. I really hate it a lot. Help me fix this!!!!

Yay guess what?! I just scheduled engagement pictures! And ordered a dress about 10 minutes after scheduling the session. How do you decide what to wear? Tell me your inspiration!

It’s snowing right now and it’s suppose to be 80 degrees on Saturday. What in the…

Cut pork into chunks, removing the excess fat if you prefer. Place chunks of meat in a gallon size ziploc bag.

Add all ingredients for the marinade in a medium sauté pan and place over medium heat. Whisk to combine. Let cool then pour marinade over pork in bag. Place in refrigerator to marinate overnight, at least 12 hours or more.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, pour water in the bottom of the baking sheet (to keep from burning) and place a wire rack on top. Place the chunks of pork on top of the wire rack. Sprinkle each piece of pork with a bit of salt. Place in oven to bake for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, remove from oven, flip meat over and use a basting brush to baste the pork with leftover marinade (leave enough to do this once more).

Turn oven to 400 degrees and place back in oven to cook for 15 more minutes, repeat with basting process and bake for another 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

3.2.2807

]]>http://paleomg.com/char-siu-chinese-bbq-pork/feed/27Weekly Workoutshttp://paleomg.com/weekly-workouts-25/
http://paleomg.com/weekly-workouts-25/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 14:03:23 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11118It’s really nice to be at a point in my life where I’m not constantly stressing about perfection. I used to always worry about eating perfect every day... Read More »]]>

It’s really nice to be at a point in my life where I’m not constantly stressing about perfection. I used to always worry about eating perfect every day or working out multiple times per day, but it didn’t seem to get my very far. I was constantly stressed, dissatisfied with how I looked, and pretty unhappy. Nowadays, I try to not really worry about those things as much because I know I do my best on a regular basis. Like workouts: Last weekend, when I headed to Portland, I brought a workout outfit just in case my friend Laura wanted to workout. Neither of us ended up wanting to, so we didn’t. Not once did I beat myself up about not working out. And not once did I beat myself up about indulging in all of the restaurants we tried.

I think it’s pretty easy to beat ourselves up about the small things instead of focusing on the big picture. The big picture being the things we do well, the healthy things we do for ourselves, and things that continue to make us happy. Like cooking our own meals, or making it to the gym regularly, or taking a long walk every day, or even scheduling a massage for ourselves (I’m doing that today!). If we are constantly beating ourselves up about the “mistakes” we make like the cocktails we had over the weekend or the pizza you ate while highly intoxicated or not making it to the gym like you planned, then we don’t create an environment for us to be happy with everything great we’ve done for ourselves recently. Sorry I’m getting all deep here, but I’m just reminding you to be kind to yourself. Because it’s Monday and it’s TIME TO KICK SOME ASS!

Sunday – Rest day because I was finishing eating in Portland and flying back to Colorado.

Monday – CrossFit – It felt so good to get back in the gym after a weekend of eating and no workouts in Portland. It’s nice to take time off from the gym but it’s so fun to get home to my gym family.

Tuesday – CrossFit – This workout (the third part of it) completely schooled me. I had to run 2 rounds because our class was so large. Good reminder of how out of running shape I am. Summer is coming, I need to get outside more.

6 min AMRAP Of: (Alternating Movements, each time you come off wall/bar you must sprint 100m)

Max Strict HSPU

Max Strict Pull Ups

I got 21 reps

Then:

@ 0:00

3 Rounds For Time Of:

15 Deadlift (225/155)

15 Box Jumps (24/20)

I finished in 3:50

@ 10:00

3 rounds For Time Of:

400m Row (I ran

20 Burpees Over Rower

I finished in 17:21 (I think, honestly I have no idea)

Wednesday – CrossFit – Because of my knee, I’m modifying almost everything. Right now, I’m able to do pistols to a box and I still get a good butt workout. You should try it!

Alternating Tabata For 6 sets of each: (lowest score for each movement counts)

Alternating Pistols (reps) – I did pistols to a low bench

L-Sit (seconds) – I did hollow rocks

My lowest # of pistols was 9 and held the hollow rock for all 20 seconds

Then

As Far As Possible In 6 mins:

5-10-15-20-25…… Russian KB Swings (70/55)

30 Double Unders After Each Set

I got through the set of 25 KB and double unders and got 12 more KBs

Thursday – rest day

Friday – CrossFit Open workout!

Complete as many reps as possible in 8 minutes of:

3 handstand push-ups – 3 cleans (185/125)

6 handstand push-ups – 3 cleans

9 handstand push-ups – 3 cleans

12 handstand push-ups – 6 cleans

15 handstand push-ups – 6 cleans

18 handstand push-ups – 6 cleans

21 handstand push-ups – 9 cleans

Etc., adding 3 reps to the handstand push-up each round, and 3 reps to the clean every 3 rounds.

I finished 78 reps rx

Saturday – Impromptu rest day. I was planning to workout at 9am in our FIT classes, but ended up babysitting until 3am the night before, meaning I didn’t wake up until 9:30am the next morning. Sometimes I think that maybe having a baby could be in my closer future, then I am slapped in the face with shooting pee and reminded, no thank you.

I’m totally losing my mind, you guys. If you didn’t read my last post, do it. It’s a quick iminapsychopanic kind of post. Easy read. I’m talking all about the home buying process and how much of a crazy stress it is. People don’t warn you about it. Nope. They just all go on, buying houses, keeping their panic to themselves. Not me. No way. I’m spreading that panic everywhere. Sharing it with the world. AHHHHHHH.

Ok, I’ll calm the hell down. But let me explain how I’m losing my mind. I keep forgetting everything. I keep forgetting to send emails, or sign something, or pick up something. Memory = gone. Just the other day, when I was unpacking my suitcase from my Portland trip, I noticed that I was missing a shirt and a leather jacket, both of which I had just purchased a week earlier and hadn’t worn yet. Since I hadn’t ended up wearing them in Portland, I started wondering if I had thrown them in the wash. When the wash showed up empty, I started jumping to conclusions thinking someone had stolen it out of our room. Or out of my bag while traveling. I started thinking everyone was a bad person. I started getting hella pissed. So I called the hotel questioning them. Like a real assh*le.

I left the clothes in the hotel closet. Like a real assh*le. They had the clothes in their Lost and Found. Like good people. Ugh. I hate myself right now.

But back to fashion fridays, because that seems to be the only calm I have at the moment. Shopping is so fun when you’re stressed. All I’ve been looking at online is anything french bulldog related that I can put in our new house. Pillows, drawings, decals. Everything. I need to get it together. I’m becoming a cat lady. But with a dog. And a soon to be husband. Anywho, here are some of the pieces I found while shopping in Portland. I tried shopping at some boutiques downtown, but they were a bit out of my price range. Once we ventured out to Lake Oswego, I found some cute boutiques that I could afford!

This sweater. Comfy, casual and lightweight for the non-snow Colorado days.

This tshirt. I don’t really like tshirts. I don’t own many. I’d just much rather expose the shoulders. Expose, haha. But this tshirt is flowy and has sweater material on the back. So I just went for it, ok??

These booties. They are just divine. So comfortable, so sleek, and I feel like cat woman. Or a dominatrix. Either way, I love them so damn much. And they were on sale. Nothing is better than shoes on sale. Nothing. Except for Jackson.

Wedding dress shopping!! I was lucky enough to try on dresses at the beautiful boutique, The English Department. They were so sweet and helpful. This was my first time trying on dresses and only one really gave me the “wow” moment. I started tearing up wearing it. Of course, I’m not sharing the picture of that dress. I plan on going to one more store to try more on and see if anything can beat that feeling I had.

I forget how many dresses I tried on but I think it was around 8-9. This was one of the first dresses. This Nicole Miller lace, strapless look was pretty much what I was thinking I would wear. I loved it. The lace is called a coral lace and it’s pretty light weight so it would be perfect for a beach wedding. AND it pushed up my boobs, which I’m always a fan of. Just being honest here.

This was the same exact Nicole Miller dress but without the lace. I wanted to try that on because I had some ideas about dressing up the dress a bit and making it pop in other ways. Again, loved that it pushed up my boobs. And loved the shape. It’s one of those dresses that pulled and moved in all the right places, which I love.

This was not a style I thought I would like at all. I thought it would look trashy with boobs my side (sorry I keep talking about boobs) but it didn’t at all! This Elizabeth Dye dress was super light weight, comfortable, and I loved the back (can you believe how many moles I have? unreal) and the lace detail on the stop was beautiful. But I just didn’t really feel like a bride for some reason.

I don’t have a picture of the front of this dress but it was very short lived. As much as I absolutely LOVE the back, I could barely walk in the dress since it was so snug at the knees. And I don’t really want that much sleeve. But love the low back. I can’t wait to try on more dressed with low backs!

NOW THIS, I absolutely, positively freaking love this Elizabeth Dye dress. Since getting engaged, I’ve dreamed about doing a different colored dress and having my bridesmaids in white or cream. I just love that idea. I walked in the store and about squealed when I saw this dress. You can tell in my face in this picture how much I love the dress. Problem was, it was waaaay too much dress and weight for a beach wedding. But this color just blows me away. I love it so damn much. Alas, I don’t want to have a sweaty butt on my beach wedding day.

I don’t understand something. Why the hell do we go through years of college, spend thousands of dollars and countless nights studying, if they don’t plan to give us any insight into the real world? It makes no effing sense. Never once in college was I told, “Hey, if you’re a business owner of an LLC, you’ll have to pay quarterlies.” Thank the lawd I figured that out early because of my mother. Never once in college was I told, “Hey, credit is bullish*t. You need to pay all of your balances in full, on time, perfectly, and you’ll still be doing something wrong.” Never once in college was I told, “Buying a house is the most stressful thing ever. Understanding all the paperwork will be close to impossible. So good luck!” College taught me the USDA guildelines to diet (which is obviously all bullsh*t), it taught me how to calculate BMI (which is obviously all bullsh*t) and I had a teacher who taught me to never cry at work. I think that one is a good idea, but I work from home so I cry at my work all the time. So her tip was obviously all bullsh*t.

I also had a class that we talked about rotting food. Then we had to smell different kinds of rotting food. Yeah. That course was paid for. Ridiculous.

It’s so frustrating that none of the really important sh*t that we need to understand is ever taught to us. Right now, I’m in the process of closing on my first home. OMGI’MSOFREAKINGEXCITED!!! But being a small business owner, there are about a million hoops to jump through first. I’m continuously getting calls from different people asking for different paperwork with different words I’ve never even used before. I just wish I would have had classes on how to create a website, or be a business owner, or all about credit, or about a mortgage, or how to manage money, or all the damn insurance I need. All these things would have been helpful the day I graduated. Thankfully, most of this I have figured out on my own…because I hire people to help me figure it out. But fuuuuu, I’m still annoyed about my whole college experience.

Except for the partying. That all was awesome.

But let’s get back to the news. We are buying our first house!! I’ve been looking for houses since summer, pretty much all around Denver, but I always had one neighborhood in mind that I REALLY hoped we could find a house in. After months and months and months of looking, I found a house on Redfin that barely had any pictures of it because it was in the process of fixing-and-flipping. But since the house was in the neighborhood we loved so much, I went over there right away. It was hard to visualize the final product because it was being painted and no appliances or anything had been put it yet. But I loved it. So I forced Brian to come see the house with me. He had a harder time visualizing the place. BUT the house was under our budget, it fit all the requirements we had, AND if our offer was accepted early enough, we would be able to pick all of our finishes for the kitchen. Pretty much the house became our blank slate. Never once did I think I would be able to create my own kitchen with my own vision and it was finally possible. So we put down an offer still questioning if it was the right house and it was accepted the next day!! I about died. It all happened so fast. Before we knew it, we were signing paperwork after paperwork, picking out granite, choosing our cabinets, thinking about backsplash. It’s all pretty amazing.

And pretty effing stressful.

After going through this process, I firmly believe they should institute a college course entitled, “How to not have a complete panic attack on the floor of your bathroom while in the process of purchasing your first home”.

Place a large pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter to melt. Once pan is hot, add shrimp to the pan (making sure not to overcrowd) along with a pinch of salt, and cook on both sides for just a couple minutes, until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl up. Remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pan over medium heat, add coconut aminos, fish sauce and red pepper flakes. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to thicken the sauce. This will take about 10+ minutes. By the end, the sauce should coat the back of a spoon.

While the sauce is simmering, place another medium-large pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms to pan, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook on both sides for about 5 minutes, until a nice brown appears.

Lastly, add the asparagus spears to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes.

Once sauce has thickened, pour it on top of the veggies and toss with shrimp and sesame seeds.

3.2.2807

]]>http://paleomg.com/30-minute-shrimp-asian-stir-fry/feed/39Stuffing My Face in Portlandhttp://paleomg.com/stuffing-my-face-in-portland/
http://paleomg.com/stuffing-my-face-in-portland/#commentsTue, 17 Mar 2015 14:10:47 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11033What uppppp Portland! You really are weird. But not THAT weird because I live near Boulder, so I see weird on a regular basis. Portland is strange in... Read More »]]>

What uppppp Portland! You really are weird. But not THAT weird because I live near Boulder, so I see weird on a regular basis. Portland is strange in the sense that everyone is strangely happy, all the time. Happy to be a hippie, happy to serve you dinner, happy to wear their ponchos all day every day. Everyone is just happy. Except for a homeless man I met. But I will get to that later.

Who really cares about what my experience was like in Portland, you just want to know about my favorite places I ate. And I ate WELL. So much food was consumed this past weekend. It was wonderful. Let’s get after it.

Oh shart, I need to put the disclaimer out there first: This items that I ordered are not often strict paleo because I eat whatever the hell I want, especially the things that don’t make me sick. That means I stick gluten free, but not always strict paleo.

We started our Portland trip on a sunny afternoon, so we were able to walk everywhere and get a feeling for the city. Which we really did. We walked EVERYWHERE. My feet were so damn sore by the end of the day, even with comfy shoes on. We walked, we talked, we shopped, and then we found ourselves close to Verde Cocina which is a completely gluten free restaurant. Talk about the most decadent quesadilla I’ve ever had. A friend said I HAD to try the bacon, but I didn’t because I suck. We just had some guacamole to start with their homemade tortillas. Not tortilla CHIPS, just tortillas. They are awesome, unlike corn tortillas that you get at the store, these ones are sticker and softer. Super good. The chorizo quesadilla I got was piled high with all kinds of sh*t. Good veggie sh*t. I also had a glass of their white sangria and it was delicious. Again, if you go there, try the bacon. I heard it’s insanely good. I’m still disappointed with myself.

After wandering for what became 6-7 hours, we came across the Alphabet District, which is adorable, and found our way over to Salt and Straw. Everyone said I just HAD to go there for ice cream. I did. It was really good, nothing that I was blown away by, but still good. I got the almond brittle with caramel ganache. The caramel is super salty there, which I’m in to, but be warned. You can even get salt as a topper. They do a really good job with cool flavors like honey lavender and pear with blue cheese. About a 30-40 minute wait. While walking home across the river, it got dark real quick. To be smart, we stayed out of any dark lit streets. At one point, we almost turned down a street, but decided against it because it was dark. A guy laughed at us. Bastard.

The next morning we woke up early to shower up and head to breakfast before my bridal appointment on The English Department (I’ll be sharing dress pictures come Friday for Fashion Fridays!). On their site, they recommended eating at Tasty n Alder. And HOLY BALLS, was I happy they recommended it! It may have been my favorite food of the entire trip. It just blew me away. We got the maple cumin sweet potatoes, the steak and frites, and the polenta n sugo. Un.Real. The food was just so damn good. I had to put my fork down the stop eating since I knew I had to try dresses on later. If you go to Portland, GO TO THIS PLACE. And get the polenta. Fudge, it was amazing.

After trying on dresses (and maybe finding THE ONE) we headed to Lake Oswego to visit my friend and amazing gluten free baker Kyra, who owns Kyra’s Bake Shop! You may know her from Cupcake Wars because she’s won THREE times. Badass, eh? So we met with her at her bakery to grub on some food before shopping around town. Yes, more shopping. Duh. We of course started our afternoon sugar meal with one of her gluten free cinnamon rolls (yes, SHE SHIPS THESE!!). These cinnamon rolls aren’t just good, you guys, they are hands down the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever eaten. Hands down. No question about it. I quickly stuffed my face with one of those AND THEN shared a piece of her Tall, Dark and Handsome cake. Each slice weighs 2 1/2 pounds. We couldn’t even get close to finishing even half of it. But I had to try it once since I had never before. It was unbelievably good.

It’s bigger than my face. Wicked.

After shopping and finding some new black booties, we decided to make our way back to Portland to finally eat at Departure. I’ve been looking forward to Departure for quite sometime now. If you don’t know about Departure or head chef/Top chef contestant Gregory Gourdet, you need to listen up. He’s just the greatest. Kyra is friends with him so we were lucky enough to try a ton of different menu items AND we got to meet him! Here’s a few things about departure: the venue doesn’t have a sign, it’s on the 15th floor (or something like that) of some building, it’s the strangest galaxy space themed place, with all really good looking male servers and managers, and chefs! Oh wait, and the food is f*cking awesome. So flavorful and fresh. We had a cabbage slaw, tuna tartar, seafood curry, garlic fried rice, blackened chicken, steak cooking on a hot rock, and two crazy amazing desserts. We also has some damn good cocktails. It was all so fun. I was unbelievably full afterwards. When we met with Gregory, I fell in love with him. He’s so kind, so humble, and his laugh is super contagious. Being around those kinds of people is the best. Can’t wait to see him again next month in Austin, TX!

The next morning, we weren’t exactly hungry. Like at all. But we wanted to make sure we got to try as many restaurants as possible. So we hopped in our little Car2Go and headed out around town. If you haven’t rented one of these things yet, you need to. They are so easy to get anywhere in and easy to park anywhere, as well. I love them. I feel like I’m in a go-cart. It’s sweet. Anywho, we decided to grab some breakfast at Brix Tavern because they had eggs benedict on top of corn cakes AND bottomless mimosas. Sad thing is we never got mimosas because we were too full and our breakfast wasn’t anything to write home about. Do you see the donuts sitting in the background? They looked at us the whole time but we held strong. It’s really no big deal. TAKE THAT DONUTS.

After breakfast, Kyra picked us up to head to the vineyards. I have no idea where we were because I don’t even like wine. My bestie Laura does and it’s one of those social things that you should just do. That being said, it was really fun. Get two sips in me and my inhibitions go away and I’ll admit to really anything. We had little girl talks, we ate cheese and salami, and then we went to another vineyard and did the exact same thing. On our way back to Portland, we grabbed a quick gluten free pizza that was what I needed after so much rich food because it wasn’t too heavy. But not good enough to write about. Moving on.

That night, we went to bed early. Sweets + wine + walking = sleepy juju. We watched two movies in bed and I may or may not have had leftover Tall, Dark and Handsome cake. Effing awesome.

The next morning, we woke up rejuvenated and ready to take on another food day in Portland. We hopped in our Car2go once again and headed over the bridge. Whatever neighborhood we were in, where we ate at Tin Shed, was an awesome neighborhood. I wish were would have spend more time there. But first, let me tell you about Tin Shed because honestly, it was effing awesome. Unreal awesome. Unbelievable awesome. We had to wait a while but there was an adorable coffee shop next door that we had coffee at while we waited. Hold on, I’ll get to the food soon. This restaurant allows dogs. Now if you’re not really into dogs (weirdo) this may seem odd to you because there is a dog everywhere you turn. On people’s laps, calmly wait on the floor, excitedly eating on the floor. To me, it’s amazing. Especially because I saw a frenchie AND an english bulldog. Happy life. They even have a menu for dogs. And the staff is unbelievably friendly. I swear, everyone’s on drugs there. I like it.

But back to the food. They have gluten free french toast there!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH I died. Laura and I split the french toast and split their special scramble that had chorizo, red peppers, and homemade hazelnut pesto on top, along side a freaking awesome potato pancake AND a giant biscuit (we didn’t eat, sad day). It was all amazing. And when she gave us the check, it was only $11.50 per person!! Crazy cheap for how much food each of us ate. It was honestly so damn good. I’m very sad I don’t live near that restaurant because I would eat there all.the.time.

Now this includes the food. But let’s chat real briefly about some weird things in Portland. Ok, I don’t think it’s weird that dogs are allowed in restaurants, I think IT’S EFFING AWESOME, but look how hilarious this little english bulldog is. She posed for the pic, with a really “i hate you” kind of look. She’s awesome.

Back to the weirdness though, what the hell is up with the water fountains? They are so strange. And they’re always running. If you don’t watch Parks & Rec, well then first get it together and watch all the seasons on Netflix, but if you do, doesn’t this water fountain remind you of the episode that Pawnee has a problem with how people drink from water fountains? That is my second favorite episode ever. Such weird water fountains. And the streets are all incredibly clean. No one litters there. That’s a weird positive thing. I came back to Denver and thought, “All you people are disgusting and I hate you.” Yep. There is a garbage everywhere. Portland, you’re so pretty.

Something else that is different is Powell’s Bookstore. It is the most giant bookstore ever. I went there one of the first days we got to Portland to sign some of my cookbooks. I was so happy to see The Paleo Kitchen AND OMG. That’s Paleo? on their bookshelves. I signed and went on my day, very happy. The next day, I got tagged on instagram by some ladies who had already picked up the books. So we headed back there and entered from another street. We legit thought we were in a different bookstore since none of it felt familiar. So confusing. But I signed about 6 more cookbooks, so if you are in Portland, get over there!!

And I guess people are obsessed with Portland’s airport carpet. It’s a thing. If you search #pdxcarpet on instagram, you’ll find 40,000 pictures like the one I took. So weird. But I’m hip and weird now after hanging out in Portland, so I had to take one obviously. Man, do I miss being tan. It’s been 80 degrees in Colorado and I missed it. My skin thanks me but looking in the mirror isn’t as thrilling right now.

One last thing. I’d love to say our last experience in Portland was just the best, but it ended on a strange note. A weird note, I guess you could say. Remember how I said everyone is highonhappydrug nice? We sadly had to find out that it’s not totally case. Like any big city, there are a few screws loose. On our last day, while joyfully walking back to the hotel uphill on a windy street, we walked comfortably behind a few people. I’m not a close stander or walker. Give people space, you weirdos. At one point we were walking behind a homeless man who quickly slowed down as if he were going into a shop. But then he suddenly stopped, turned around to face us and asked me, “Do you want me to punch you in the f*cking mouth?” Um, no sir, I do not want you to punch me in the f*cking mouth. You eyes are insane and I am certain I have soft bones that would not take a hard blow kindly. So all I was able to spit out was, “Whaaatwhaaa?” in a mad panic as I began pouring sweat imaging my teeth knocked out. Remember the guy earlier who laughed at us for not wanting to walk down dark streets, THIS IS WHY YOU ASSH*LE. Thankfully, I made it home with all my teeth. Turns out, he’s not on the happy drugs.

Ah Portland, your weirdness slays me.

]]>http://paleomg.com/stuffing-my-face-in-portland/feed/38Guest Post: Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Squareshttp://paleomg.com/guest-post-chocolate-hazelnut-truffle-squares/
http://paleomg.com/guest-post-chocolate-hazelnut-truffle-squares/#commentsTue, 10 Mar 2015 14:14:56 +0000http://paleomg.com/?p=11021I am so excited to finally have Alessandra from The Foodie Teen as a guest blogger on my site! This girl has it going on! Not only does... Read More »]]>

I am so excited to finally have Alessandra from The Foodie Teen as a guest blogger on my site! This girl has it going on! Not only does she come up with fantastic recipes that you thought were no longer possible on paleo, but she has absolutely beautiful photography. She deserves an applause for her amazing work. With recipes like Coconut Lemon Cheesecake Bites, Pumpkin Spice Macaroons, and Breadsticks, she will leave you wondering what the hell you were doing at 16 years old and why you didn’t have your life together like she does. Try out these fudge layers ASAP and leave all of your comments and questions for Alessandra below!

________________________________

I know, I know, four layers in one little bite-sized square may sound excessive, but being asked to guest post by one of your absolute favourite people and food bloggers definitely calls for a celebration!

And when there’s chocolate and hazelnuts involved, there can never be enough layers..

In one bite, you’ve got the toasty crunch of hazelnuts, the fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth, dark chocolate hazelnut truffle mixture, and a hint of the slightly chewy, nutty base… perfection!

These were inspired by my Ferrero Rocher Truffle Recipe, which, although extremely delicious, are a little time-consuming. Considering the rate at which they mysteriously disappear whenever I make a new batch, I needed to find a way to make them a little faster and easier to make. Well, mission accomplished!

These freeze really well too, so they’re great to make in advance for when you need a sweet treat or for when you’re expecting guests! Just keep them in an airtight container and let them defrost in the fridge for a few hours before serving. Thank you so, so much to Juli for letting me guest post here today, and I hope you all enjoy these!

¼ cup coconut oil (I use the deodorised version here, which has no coconutty smell or taste – this means it doesn’t distract from the subtle hazelnut flavor)

¼ cup maple syrup

¼ cup almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Crunchy Hazelnut Layer

1 cup chopped roasted hazelnuts

For the Chocolate Drizzle

¼ cup chopped dark chocolate

1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

To make the base layer, place all the ingredients in a food processor and combine for 10 seconds, until it’s combined but still has visible chunks of hazelnuts in it. Transfer to a foil-lined 5×3″ container (it doesn’t have to be oven-proof as this recipe requires no baking!). Place in the fridge while you make the filling.

To make the filling, place all the ingredients in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water (a double boiler), then stir well when everything’s melted to form a smooth, dark mixture. Taste and add more maple syrup if necessary (this will depend on things like how sweet your cacao powder is and what level of sweetness you’re used to!). Remove the base layer from the fridge, then pour the filling over the base and smooth over with a spatula. Transfer to the fridge for 10 minutes to let it firm up just a little.

To create the crunchy hazelnut layer, sprinkle the chilled filling evenly with the crunchy roasted chopped hazelnut pieces. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in double boiler or in the microwave, then drizzle the chocolate evenly over the hazelnut pieces. Finally, transfer the container to the fridge and let firm up for at least 8 hours.

Using the foil, remove from the container. With a sharp knife, cut into sixteen small squares. Serve immediately or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them – they melt fast! Enjoy!

3.2.2807

Alessandra is a 16-year-old recipe creator and blogger behind the award-winning blog The Foodie Teen. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and taking photographs of the successful endeavours! Alessandra has Coeliac disease along with over 70 food allergies, which is how she found the Paleo diet, healed her leaky gut through real food, and now chronicles her journey on her blog in an attempt to help others heal themselves. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!